Col. James L. Green, 71, was called home from his remarkable life of service and accomplishment on Dec. 6, 2019, at his farm in Mt. Morris Pa., surrounded and loved by his ever-grateful wife and family. While his body is at rest, his spirit and earthly works live on to the glory of his God and the benefit of those who remain.
Jim was the eldest son, and one of eight children, born to Mary and Franklyn Green. His enduring and deep love of family and nature, and his capacity for hard work and problem solving, were early lessons from his happy and busy farm childhood in rural western New York. His father’s job transfer to West Virginia brought Jim to the state that he loved and served for the rest of his life.
Jim was a two-sport standout at Buckhannon-Upshur High School (Class of 1966) while also working long hours at a local hardware store. His athletic and academic success won him an invitation to play basketball at WVU and to study at the College of Engineering. While injury ended his basketball career, his excellent academics resulted in undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees from WVU, as well as license as a West Virginia Professional Engineer. Jim worked throughout college at a variety of jobs, including construction of I-68 through the challenging mountain terrain.
Jim’s civilian career began as Staff Engineer of the Morgantown Water Commission and continued through three decades of service to the people of Morgantown. He was instrumental in the creation and success of the Morgantown Utility Board, and, as general manager, brought the utility to local, state and national acclaim for extraordinary operational and fiscal success. While relentless in pursuit of highest quality public service, Jim was likewise relentless in his care and mentoring of employees. There were no subordinates under Jim’s leadership, only colleagues and friends who flourished and excelled under his kind and selfless care. Generations of Morgantown citizens will continue to benefit from Jim’s extraordinary talent, insight and dedication to service.
Jim’s military career was also remarkable in his rare rise from an enlistee Pvt. to a highly decorated Col. of the Corps of Engineers. After promotion through the enlisted ranks to Staff Sgt., the Army recognized his abilities and awarded him a commission as a Second Lieutenant. His problem-solving, empathy and dedication to the mission and his soldiers made him an extraordinarily effective officer. His commands, including the 459th Engineer Company and the 463rd Engineer Battalion, accomplished every challenge presented, through many demanding deployments to Europe and Central America. These successes resulted in promotion to full Col. and appointment to a critical position at Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Shortly after this promotion, our nation was attacked. Jim immediately volunteered to serve on active duty and was deployed to Pakistan to command a challenging mission. His recognized tactical and engineering prowess in that assignment resulted in a second deployment to the Army headquarters in Iraq. Throughout the dangers and challenges of the war zone, Col. Green maintained his effective focus on the mission success and the care of our soldiers. This service is honored by the award and high honors of the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit medals.
Following retirement from the Army and the Utility Board, Col. Green was a lion in winter, well-settled on his beautiful Mt. Morris farm. Jim was soon joined by Charlotte, the love of his life. Together they enjoyed what Jim called “the best years of my life.”
He was devoted to his family and loved spending time with them. He was an amazing father to his children, Tricia and Todd, and to his stepson, Todd Stewart, after he suffered the loss of his father in 2006. He instilled significant values in his children, such as serving others, honesty always, the small things in life are what bring the most joy, always have faith and courage and above all to be kind.
He also enjoyed his time with his grandchildren, Jessica, Connor and Travis. He always kept them laughing and there was never a dull moment.
He loved his dog Katie, with whom he spent his morning having a cup of coffee out on the sun porch, numerous days in the swimming pool and fetching ball in the yard. She was his baby girl and never left his side, not even at the end.
He also enjoyed his time bowling for many years with Kim’s Krew at Suburban Lanes. He was a past president of the Morgantown Rotary Club and Make-a-Wish. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved to build decks.
We are truly grateful and blessed to have been loved by him and cannot thank him enough for being the best son, brother, devoted father, loving husband, grandfather, uncle, nephew and loyal friend.
He is preceded in death by his father, Franklyn Green.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Green, of Orlando, Fla.; his wife, Charlotte Green, of Mt. Morris, Pa.; Katie, his beloved dog; and his children, Tricia Suschak and husband, Jim, and granddaughter, Jessica, of Morgantown, Todd Green and wife, Laura Torres, and grandson, Connor, of Asheville, N.C.; and stepson, Todd Stewart and grandson, Travis, of Morgantown; his sisters, Linda Straight, of Evansville, Ind., Laura Curry, of Orlando, Fla., Margaret Whitt and her husband, Edward, of Orlando, Fla.; his brothers, Frank Green and his wife, Barb, of Palestine, Texas, Gary Green, of Greensboro, Pa., Gordy Green and his wife, Karon, of Arnold, Mo., and Dan Green and his wife, Dana, of Clarence Center, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.
The Green Family would like to extend their sincere thanks to WVU Medicine, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and Amedysis Hospice for their kindness, compassion and loving care given to him and to his family.
Jim Green lives on in the hearts, minds and works of those touched by his kind and effective leadership, in the infrastructure serving the city he loved and helped to build and in the example of selfless service that we admire and honor with gratitude and love.
“If you are ever granted the privilege of leadership … be there for your people always.” — George W. Cummings, Sr. (Lessons at the Fence Post)
Family and friends will be received at Greater Love Family Outreach Ministry, 275 Canyon Road, Morgantown, from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and again from
11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. with Pastor Junius Lewis officiating.
